About Us

Founded in 1962, The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul is Minnesota’s foremost film exhibition organization, and a 501(c)(3) non-profit. We bring the best of international and independent cinema to Minnesota audiences through the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, numerous niche film festivals and series, and daily programming 365-days a year.

We promote the art of film as a medium that fosters cross-cultural understanding, education, entertainment, and exploration. We offer audiences unique opportunities to experience the wealth of international cinema, to engage with and learn from visiting international filmmakers, and to come together and share these experiences as a community.

The Film Society is best known for the annual centerpiece, the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF). Presented every April, MSPIFF is the largest international arts event in the region, exhibiting more than 250+ films from some 70 countries each year and drawing growing audiences of nearly 50,000 in 2016.

All foreign language films are presented with English subtitles.

Our Mission

The Mission of the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul is to foster a knowledgeable and vibrant appreciation of the art of film and its power to inform and transform individuals and communities.

Our mission is accomplished through a commitment to exhibiting the very best of new and classic local, domestic and international independent cinema. These notable award-winning films represent many perspectives and experiences and are, for the most part, simply not otherwise available to audiences in the region. And so, through the power of great cinema, we expose our audiences, in a unique way, to a rare mix of cultures, ideas, current affairs and notable filmmaking from around the world.

Our mission is carried out through the annual Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, regular special themed series, and daily screenings of new releases and classics from around the globe.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, and a grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation.